Black houseplants are the perfect way to add a little bit of drama and contrast to your home. If you’re trying for an edgy look, black is one option that will not steer you wrong.
In this post, we’re going to take a look at 15 varieties of black houseplants that are sure to set the mood…
15 Black Houseplants
In this collection, you’ll discover some beautiful black beauties that will complement your decor. The exciting news is that you don’t need to be a gardener to take care of these plants – all you need is a desire to learn.
1. Alocasia Reginula / Black Velvet
Also known as the Little Queen, this plant is exotic and elegant. With silver veins that shine against a dark background, it’s a good way to add mystery to any room.
The plant is native to Southeast Asia and is a member of the Araceae family. It is quite rare to find in the wild, but popular in homes across the globe.
It is called black velvet because of the velvety appearance of its large, heart-shaped leaves. These leaves are thick and tend to grow to 4-6 inches in length.
The plant is tolerant of low light conditions, loves humidity, and should be kept in course soil. Alocasias are prone to root rot, so being careful with watering is important.
2. Canna Lily / Tropicanna Black
It’s a bold choice, but one that will draw eyes to it. The Canna Lily is a tropical plant that gives orange blooms against a dark backdrop of black foliage.
It’s best to grow this plant outdoors in fertile soil that receives direct sunlight. It is also possible to grow it indoors, but you will need a lot of time and dedication.
The flowers are large and beautiful – with the plant able to grow 1m in width and 1.5m in height! This plant is considered a perennial, so once you plant it – you don’t have to worry about replanting.
3. Colocasia Esculenta / Black Magic
Known as black magic and elephant ear, the colocasia is a tropical plant really commands attention. If you’re looking for an attention-grabbing, dramatic flair in your garden, this is definitely the plant of choice.
Colocasia is typically found growing in bogs, swamps, or even the margins of your water garden. It will also do well as long as it has average soil to grow with!
As tropical plants, they love the summer and don’t thrive in areas below zone nine. This means that those who live in colder climates may have issues with growing this plant.
4. Zamioculcas Zamiifolia / ZZ Raven
The ZZ raven is a plant that offers a lot of variety to the home. It’s got unique, waxy foliage and can be found in four different colors – green, bronze, silver, or black!
It is considered an indoor houseplant because it does not need direct sunlight. In fact, it prefers low light conditions which make them perfect for spaces with no natural light, like offices.
Offering a beautiful, deep green color to any room, they are also easy enough for beginners to take care of. Their thick trunks offer structure and style that will last throughout the years.
5. Aeonium Arboreum / Zwartkop
The zwartkop is a succulent shrub that has a lot of depth to it. It’s got dark, thick leaves, but with a green center.
It will do best when planted outdoors with plenty of light exposure – making them perfect for the sunroom or garden. If you’re looking to add an accent plant indoors, they’ll need bright lighting but indirect.
The plant is native to many areas in the Canary Islands, so it’s important that they are kept warm – between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. Strobilanthes Dyeriana / Persian Shield
The Persian shield is a stunning plant with an interesting pattern. The leaves are dark purple, but have green-colored veins running through them.
Its foliage offers both structure and color to any room it’s placed in! This makes persian shields great for entryways or places where you want guests to stop and stay awhile.
They grow best when kept outdoors, in full sunlight. They also need water regularly, so it’s important to keep their soil moist at all times!
7. Calathea Rosepicta “Dottie” / Rose Painted Calathea
The rose-painted calathea is a beautiful, eye-catching plant that will add color to any room! It’s got large leaves with pink veins running through them.
Their bold colors make it a perfect accent piece for your kitchen or sunroom – where you can enjoy the vibrancy of their foliage on a daily basis.
The native habitat for Calathea roseopicta is the rainforests of South America. As such, give them warm temperatures and indirect light (like what they would receive on the forest floor).
8. Oxalis Triangularis / Purple Oxalis
The purple oxalis is a unique plant that offers purple foliage and three-pronged leaves. The leaves grow upright, which makes them perfect as an accent piece for your home!
It would look great in any room you want to add some color – like the bathroom or kitchen where the purple will pop but not be overbearing. It’s also got a unique look that looks great as an accent piece.
They are commonly grown outside, but can also do well indoors. Just be sure to keep them in indirect sunlight and allow the soil to dry in between waterings.
9. Sinocrassula Yunnanensis / Chinese Jade
The Chinese jade is a succulent plant that has dark, almost black leaves with green accents. It’s got an interesting pattern and looks great as a centerpiece on your table!
The Chinese jade does best when kept outdoors where it can enjoy full sunlight exposure – making them perfect for patios, decks, or even the garden.
They are drought-resistant, meaning you can enjoy them in your home without worrying about having to water them every day.
10. Echeveria “Black Prince” / Black Hens And Chicks
The black hen and chicks plant is a succulent that’s got dark leaves with green accents. The dense, thick foliage gives it an interesting look!
It grows best when kept outdoors – in full sunlight exposure where the temperature hovers between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit. It can also grow indoors, just be sure it’s placed in bright, indirect light.
11. Haworthiopsis Nigra / Haworthia Nigra
The haworthia nigra is a succulent that’s got thin, dark leaves with green accents. They look great as a centerpiece on your table or in the window where they can soak up all that natural light!
They are native to South Africa, so they enjoy high temperatures – between 60-85 degrees Fahrenheit. They can also thrive indoors, just be sure to keep them in bright light that’s indirect.
12. Peperomia Metallica / Red Tree
The red tree rubber plant is a unique, ornamental houseplant that offers thick leaves with red veins. They’re perfect for adding pops of color to rooms or areas that don’t get much light.
They like high temperatures between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit and indirect sunlight – making them great as an indoor plant! Just be sure they’re in a bright, sunny room where they can soak up all that natural light.
13. Viola Tricolor (Var. Hortensis) / Black Pansies
The black pansies are a unique flower that’s almost entirely black in color. They look great in gardens or as an accent piece indoors.
Pansies are incredibly hardy plants, perfect for beginner gardeners! They grow in most conditions and enjoy indirect sunlight. In fact, they even continue blooming through the winter frost!
14. Peperomia Caperata / Burgundy Ripple
The burgundy ripple is a succulent that has thick, dark leaves with green and red veins. They look great as an accent piece on your desk or coffee table!
They like warm temperatures between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit and bright light – making them perfect for indoor growing. Just be sure to keep the soil moist but never over water.
15. Lithops / Living Stone
The living stone is a unique little succulent that’s almost entirely gray-brown with just one green spot on the top! They look great as an accent piece or in garden pots.
Lithops are small, succulent plants with only two leaves. They rarely get higher than an inch (2.5 cm.) off of the ground and can often be found growing in cracks or crevices.
How Do Black Plants Get Their Color?
Black plants have a special pigment that causes their dark shades. This chemical is called anthrocyanin, and it gives black flowers their famously intense coloration of blue or purple-hued leaves and petals.
This pigment is extremely helpful for plants that grow in hot climates. By absorbing higher levels of light, the pigment shields the plant from damage and overheating.
Black plants still contain chlorophyl, but it is masked by anthrocyanin. Although the two pigments are color-coded to absorb different wavelengths of light, they both do their part for photosynthesis.
Are Black Houseplants Actually Black?
No, not all plants with dark foliage are actually black. There is a big difference between “black” and “purple,” “blue,” or even “red-tinged.
However, genetic engineering is being used to create black foliage in more plant varieties. This technology is still a work in progress, but some of the newest cultivars are already available for purchase.
Normally, leaves that naturally grow as dark colors have adapted to absorb intense sunlight and heat from their regions. In order to thrive under those conditions – they must be able to protect themselves from overheating.
Are Black Houseplants Expensive?
It depends on the type of plant you are purchasing. Some of the most expensive black houseplants are those that have been genetically engineered to obtain their dark colors.
These new cultivars may also be protected by patent, so they cannot legally be reproduced without permission – which means it’s hard for them to trickle down into availability at your local nursery or garden center.
However, black plants like black velvet are available to buy from many places. These are naturally occurring, but they tend to have limited availability – usually only sold at certain times of the year.
Should I Buy a Black Houseplant?
Black plants are known for their striking, dramatic appearance. If you’re looking for a bold statement piece in your home – then this type of plant is an obvious choice!
However, keep in mind that the black foliage normally requires full sunlight to thrive and maintain its coloration. You’ll want to ensure it gets at least six hours per day for optimal growth.
So, you might want to avoid placing it in a room where there is only limited sunlight – unless you’re prepared for the plant to lose its deep coloration over time!
Conclusion
In conclusion, black houseplants are known for their intense coloration. However, not every black plant is actually “true” black – and the ones that tend to be unique varieties of existing plants.
These dark-colored specimens also need strong sunlight in order to maintain their coloring over time – so you’ll want to make sure your home provides them with enough of a “sunbath.”
Do you have any favorite black plants? Please feel free to share your thoughts with me. Personally, my favorite is the black velvet because it has a unique look that can be placed in any room in my house.
Tim is an avid gardener from the UK. He was the founder of PlantCarer.com from 2021 to Sep 2023. He sold PlantCarer.com to Aaron. He has since started his own business called Seed To Supper, which provides new gardeners all the materials you need in a box (pots, seeds, compost and instructions) to grow your own delicious and nutritious vegetables and herbs from start to finish – no garden required.
